Asset forfeiture disbursements to LA Sheriff's Department
| Submitted | April 11, 2014 |
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Communications
From: Todd Feathers
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the California's Sunshine Amendment (Cal. Const. Art. I, ยง 3(b)), I hereby request the following records:
-All requests for disbursements from the law enforcement asset forfeiture fund made by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department since 2009.
-Records of all disbursements made to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department from the fund since 2009.
-Any audits completed by your department since 2000 of the asset forfeiture fund.
I also request that fees be waived as I am a journalist -- employed by MuckRock and the Boston Globe -- and intend to use any pertinent information I receive as a result of this request to educate the public.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Todd Feathers
From: AC-CONSTITUENT
Thank you for contacting Los Angeles County Department of Auditor-Controller.
Your e-mail inquiry has been reviewed and has been forwarded to the appropriate Auditor-Controller staff to be researched. You will receive a direct response from them.
Reference No.: CE14 - 123
From: Barrera, Arlene M.
Hello Mr. Feathers,
I would appreciate clarification regarding the distinction you are making between two of the items included in your request.
-All requests for disbursements from the law enforcement asset forfeiture fund made by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department since 2009.
-Records of all disbursements made to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department from the fund since 2009.
I can provide you with an Excel file of each payment issued from the Sheriff's Narcotics Enforcement Special Fund (which includes forfeited assets) for the period you requested. If this satisfies your two requests, please let me know and I will provide you with the file later this afternoon. However, if part of your request is seeking information relating to requests the Sheriff may have received to release forfeited assets, you would need to contact the Sheriff's Department directly.
Regarding the third item you requested, attached is a link to all audit reports issued by our department dating back to before 2009. Once you open the link, click on the letter "S" in the A to Z line at the top and it will take you directly to the list of reports we have issued for the Sheriff dating back to 2001.
As soon as I obtain clarification on the two items above, I will begin working on your request.
Regards,
Arlene Barrera
Assistant Auditor-Controller
500 West Temple Street Room 525
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone (213) 974-0729
Fax (213) 617-0592
abarrera@auditor.lacounty.gov
From: Todd Feathers
Ms. Barrera,
Thank you so much for the quick response. I'll stick with just the excel sheet you mentioned in your last e-mail, and contact the sheriff's department regarding the other communications.
Again, I really appreciate how helpful you've been.
Best,
Todd
From: Barrera, Arlene M.
Mr. Feathers,
Attached is the spreadsheet I was able to extract from our financial system. It references all financial activity relating to the Sheriff's Narcotics Fund (Asset Forfeiture Fund) for the period you requested. Following is information you may need to understand the transactions:
"Document Record Date" = The date the transaction was processed, or the date the check was issued.
" Posting Amount " = Amount of the transaction or check
"Vendor Customer Name" = Payee Name. Where there is no payee referenced, the transaction most likely relates to a deposit or adjustment to the fund.
"Line Description" = Check description
"Check Number" = The check number issued. Where this field is blank, the transaction probably relates to a deposit of adjustment.
Also, when we issue a check, the posting amount is negative, because it is a reduction to cash. Positive amounts in the posting amount field relate to deposits or other accounting adjusting entries. I sorted the Excel file by dollar amount, beginning with the largest dollar amount. It appears from looking at the first transaction, the county purchased a helicopter and on 5/3/13, the county's general fund received reimbursement for the purchase from the Sheriff's Narcotics Fund. The next two transactions relate to accounting adjusting entries. Unfortunately, Sheriff staff who processed the entries did not post a reason for the adjustments. Since the amounts are for the exact same amount on two different days, I looked further into the transactions and it appears someone attempted to process the same transaction twice. A reversal mas made on 7/26/10 (see positive amount of $2,356,372.54 on line 12085. Since Sheriff staff were not consistent in providing detailed information about some of the adjustments, it may be necessary for you to request additional details from them.
Also, if you sort information by check number, you may see that some check numbers are duplicated. The way our financial system works, we can process several payments to a vendor (payee) and identify details for each payment. When the check is issued (in order to save postage) we issue one check to the payee and provide several lines of detail on the check's remittance advice. An example of this would be lines 7 and 14, where HANGAR ONE AVIONICS INC was paid a check for $1,255,423.29 ($838,581.58 + $416,841.71) on May 19, 2011.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly.
Regards,
Arlene Barrera
Assistant Auditor-Controller
500 West Temple Street Room 525
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone (213) 974-0729
Fax (213) 617-0592
abarrera@auditor.lacounty.gov
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Narcotics Asset Forfeiture